Mining-machine



F. M. LEGHNER.

(No Model.)

MINING MACHINE.

Patented July 28, 1896.

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FRANCIS M. LEOHNER, OF COLUMBUS, OHIO.

MINING-MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 564,705, dated July 28,1896.

Application filed July 5, 1894. Serial No. 516,577. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, FRANCIS M. LEOHNER, a citizen of the United Stat-es,residing at O- lumbus, in the county of Franklin and State of Ohio, haveinvented a certain new and useful Improvement in Mining Machines, ofwhich the following is a specification.

My invention relates to the improvement of mining-machines of that classwherein is provided a stationary frame and a sliding frame thereon, thelatter having an endless cuttingchain.

The objects of my invention are to provide the sliding frame with aholding device of superior construction, to provide the forward end ofthe sliding frame with an improved cutting-chain, and to produce otherimprovements in details of construction which will be more fully pointedout hereinafter. These objects I accomplish in the manner illustrated inthe accompanying drawings, in Which Figure 1 is a plan View of theforward end portion of the sliding frame of amining-machinehavingmyimprovementsthereon. Fig. 2 is a centrallongitudinal section on line 00 cc of Fig. 1 and enlarged therefrom.Fig. 3 is an outer side view of my improved chain toollink. Fig. 4: is aperspective view of the same, showing a portion of one of theconnectinglinks joined thereto; and Fig. 5 is a detail view inperspective of the holding device.

Similar letters refer to similar parts throu ghout the several views.

I Owing to the well-known general construction of the sliding frame andto the fact that my improvements relate only to the forward portion ofsaid frame, I have, as indicated, shown in this application the forwardportion of said frame only. Of this frame portion, arepresents thetransverse forward end plate, and a the rearwardlyextending parallelframe-bars which are connected therewith. It will be observed that inthe construction of the forward end portion of the sliding frame Iemploy a single end plate 0 instead of the usual double on (1 plate orparallel plates. On the forward edge of the end plate a I secure byscrews or otherwise a guide or track strip b of greater width than thethickness of the plate a, the upper and lower edges of which projectabove and below the plate a in the manner indicated and form a T-shapedtrack on which the cutting-chain travels. At the corners or junctions ofthe front and side edges of the plate a I form, as shown, a semicircularout or wheel-recess b, each of which is covered by two suitablecover-plates 6 which are secured upon the upper and lower sides of theplate a, and the projecting portions of which serve, as shown, to form ajournal-bearing for a short vertical shaft b which carries asprocket-wheel b beneath the plate 5 This sprocket-wheel, as shown, isadapted to be partially encircled by the recess b in the plate corner.

As shown in the drawings, I provide the sliding frame-head on one sidewith a rearwar,dextendin g arm a which is also provided on its outerside with a cleat or guide-strip 17 which corresponds with theguide-strip b in form and arrangement.

In the construction of the cutting-chain which is adapted to run overthe sprocketwheels b and along the front and sides of the sliding frameI employ the alternately-arranged connecting and tool links indicated,respectively, at o and c.

As shown in the drawings, the tool-link c has substantially the form ofa block, which is provided with a central recess or channel 0 on itsinner side, and the inner walls of said channeled portion are adjacentto the rear sides of the block provided with oppositelylocated groovesor guideways 0 thereby forming a T-shaped recess adapted to receive, ing the manner hereinafter described, the T- shaped tracks formed by theplate a, its arm a and the upwardly and downwardly projecting edges orlips of the guide-strips b and 12 on which said tool-links are adaptedto slide. Each of the links 0 is provided at each end with two parallelhinge-lugs cl, having oppositely-located hinge-pin holes therethrough.In the construction of the connecting-links c I provide each of saidlinks with end extensions d, which are adapted, in the usual manner, tobe inserted between the projecting hinge-lugs d of the tool-link, withed to receive the shanks of suitable cuttingtools 61 The shanks of thesecutting-tools are adjustably held within said sockets by means ofset-screws e, which are screwed into the ends of the tool-links.

f represents my improved holding device, which, as shown in thedrawings, is formed in two sheet-metal sections f Each of these sectionsconsists of a sheet-metal plate bent centrally throughout its length toform an angular or substantially V-shaped body in cross-section, theedges of which are bent outward to form lateral attaching-flanges g. Theforward end of each of these sections is beveled, as shown, or inclinedrearwardly, and the i cline edges thus formed are sharpened or beveled,as indicated at g. As shown in Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings, thesesections f have their flanges g secured, respectively, to the upper andunder sides of the central portion of the end plate a, said sectionsextending in the direction of the length of the lsiding frame and theforward ends thereof being arranged slightly in rear of the forward edgeof the plate a.

As shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings, the links of the endlesscutting-chain, which extend forwardly from the rear portion of thesliding frame on which said chain is mounted, extend along the outerside of the frame-arm M, the recesses c of the tool-links being made toreceive the projecting edges of the side guide-strips or cleats b saidguide-strips thus forming a guide for the links of the chain. Leavingthe side guide-strips said chain-links pass in the usual manner over thesprocket-wheels b thence extend across the forward end of the machine,the grooves c of the links engaging with the projecting edges of theforward guide-strip 5. Owing to the engagement as described of theseguidestrips and tool-link grooves it is obvious that said strips willserve to guide the chain and retain the links in the proper alinement,thus obviating any irregularity or wabbling motion of the links.

Heretofore it has been common to employ the sliding-frame end plates asguides for the cutting-chain links, and the wear to which said endplates was thus subjected was found to be considerable. By theemployment of the strips 1) and 11 it will be seen that should the samebecome worn through frictional contact with the links said strips may bereadily removed and new ones substituted therefor with but slight laborand expense. It will also. be observed that the employment of saidstrips obviates the necessity of employing a double end plate. or twoparallel plates between which the links are ordinarily guided.

As the sliding frame is advanced into the kerf produced by the usualtraveling action of the cutting-tools, it will be seen that the forwardand inclined ends of the holder sections or gouges f will come intocontactwith and be gradually forced into the coal wall, thereby formingangular incisions immediately above and below and communicating with themain kerf. The engagement thus produced of the holdingsections with thecoal must result, as will readily be seen, in preventing any tendency ofthe machine to move laterally, which, as is well known, occurs from theresistance which the coal offers to the cutting-tools. Owing to theincline of the forwardend edges of the holder-sections, it will be seenthat the holding-kerf will be formed gradually, t'hus necessitating lesspower in forcing said sections into the coal. It will also be observedthat owing to the angular form of said holding-sections the cut-tingsmay pass backward through the channels or conduits formed between saidsections and the plate a.

Having now fully described my invention, what I claim, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a mining-machine, the combination with the single end plate of asliding frame, of a guide-strip of greater width than the thickness ofthe plate reinovably secured to the edgeof said plate to form a T-shapedtrack, and a traveling endless cutting-chain having- T-shaped groovesformed in some of its links in which grooves the T-shaped track isreceived, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

2. In a mining-machine, the combination with the forward end plate ofthe sliding frame and an endless cutting-chain supported on said endplate to cut a kerf in advance thereof, of a V-shaped gouge andholding-plate secured on the said end plate in the rear of its forwardedge, said gouge as it advances cutting a V-shaped groove communicatingwith the kerf made by the endless chain, which groove forms a bearingfor the said gouge to prevent lateral movement of the sliding frame,substantially as described.

FRANCIS M. LECHNER.

In presence of- C. O. SHEPHERD, A. L. PHELPS.

ICC

